la labor movement and fight for workers’ rights … · la labor movement and fight for workers’...
TRANSCRIPT
LA Labor Movement and Fight for Workers’ Rights
Immigration History America is a land of
immigrants.
More than 100 years ago, immigrants from Europe, including Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Russia, built some of the first unions.
Today, most immigrants come from Latin America and Asia, and are following the tradition of working hard for low wages.
Key Issues re Immigrant Workers
Right to Organize – Undocumented workers continue to be considered “employees” under the NLRA
Right to Minimum Wage & Overtime
Right to be free from workplace discrimination
Right to a healthy and safe working environment
1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA)
Granted Amnesty to estimated 3-4 million undocumented immigrants.
Family Unity Program
Special Agricultural Worker Program
Employer Sanction
6-15-90 Justice for Janitors
LAPD beat up and abused Janitors and their supporters during a peaceful demonstration in Century City.
1992 “Drywalleros” Strike
Thousands of wokrers from the residential construction industry participated in a massive strike that shut down the industry from San Diego to Ventura. 2,400 drywalleros became members of the Carpenters Union.
1995
Miguel Contreras is elected Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of
Labor
1998 74,000 home care workers vote to form a union
with Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
AFL-CIO Supports Immigrant Rights in 2000
1.) the repeal of employer sanctions
2.) legalization for the millions of undocumented immigrants in the US; and
3.) increased workplace protections for immigrants
June 6, 2000 Community Forum on Immigrant Workers’ Rights
at LA Sports Arena
Over 20,000 mostly immigrants attended to show support for the AFL-CIO declaration to support a new legalization program.
2003 Immigrant Workers Freedom
Ride
March 25, 2006
Brian Chang, LAT, 5/1/06 Damon Winter, LAT, 5/1/06
Robert Gauthier, LA Times 5/1/2006
2006 Maria Elena Durazo is elected Executive Secretary
Treasurer of the LA County Federation of Labor
2007 Hotel Worker Rising Campaign
2007-8 Campaign for Justice at LAX Hotels
June 2008 New Contracts for Janitors of SEIU Local 1877
2007 Safe and Clean Ports Campaign
SECURITY OFFICERS UNITED IN LOS ANGELES LOCAL 2006
Respect in 2007 SOULA is the first city-wide Security Officers Union in L.A. This year, thousands of Security Officers across Los Angeles are uniting to win a strong contract.
Worker Centers
2001 Forever 21 Boycott Campaign
1998-99 Justice for Koreatown Restaurant Workers
Campaign
National Day Laborers Organizing Network (NDLON)
2009 Campaign of la Asoiciación de Loncheros
La Asociación de Loncheros L.A. Familia Unida de California cree que la industria “lonchera” es un recurso muy valioso en el progreso económico y socio-cultural de Los Ángeles. Por eso creemos que la los dueños/operadores de loncheras tienen el derecho de ganarse la vida honradamente en sus área de trabajo y por lo tanto, su progreso se debe permitir en un país libre y con un buen mercado competitivo.
Connection between Worker Centers and Labor Movement
August 2006 NDLON forms a solidarity partnership with
the AFL-CIO
October 2006 – NDLON partnership with Laborers’ Union
2008
CLEAN Car Wash Campaign
Major Victory against the Pirians
AFL-CIO Partners with National Domestic Workers Alliance